asked the Minister for Education his views on a report produced by the INTO, the Employment Equality Agency and the Educational Research Centre which showed that while almost three-quarters of all primary teachers were women, men were nearly five times more likely to be appointed principals; if he intends to take any steps to ensure that principalships of national schools are distributed on a fairer basis between men and women teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Equality in Teaching Profession.
18.
This report was released on 24 June 1986 and is a detailed investigation and survey which had three objectives:
(a) to examine the factors which lead to success in securing appointment and promotion in primary schools teaching and to assess whether these factors differ for men and women.
(b) to examine the factors which influence teachers to seek promotion and to determine whether they differ as between men and women.
(c) to establish the attitudes of men and women towards equality of opportunity in primary teaching.
I do not believe it would be helpful for me to comment in the form of a reply to a question, which must of its nature be brief, on the findings of such a comprehensive report. I can inform the Deputy, however, that in the past two years, in consultation with the patrons, school management authorities and the teachers' organisation, new procedures for the selection of principals and teachers in national schools have been agreed. I am confident that these procedures, which make it mandatory to have at least one man and one woman on every selection board and which require boards to have regard to the provisions of the Employment Equality Act, 1977, will achieve greater equality in the primary teaching profession.
Is the Minister aware that one of the findings in the report was that the stereotype gender roles in Irish society was a significant factor in the lack of promotion of female teachers at that level? Will the Minister indicate if he has any steps in motion to bring about an alteration in those attitudes in schools and in society in general through the educational process? Has he any proposals in mind?
The report, as the Deputy is aware, is a substantial document — 300 pages with 75 pages of statistics. I do not think it would be appropriate for me to comment on any one part of it lest in doing so I might comment out of perspective. I would rather not make any comment at this stage — after all the report was only released on 24 June — until the report has been assessed.
I appreciate the point made by the Minister, but I should like to know if he agrees that the view in regard to the stereotype roles of men and women in Irish society is not new. That view was expressed in other reports. Has the Minister any programme or curriculum changes in mind to assist in altering those stereotypes?
There are such programmes in existence and being implemented in the school curriculum.
Is the Minister aware that 18 months ago the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Women's Rights in its first report considered education and that an important aspect of it dealt with matters which have been consolidated by the report referred to by the Minister? Is the Minister aware that we put forward solid proposals in our report on how the imbalance could be corrected? Will the Minister tell the House if any of our recommendations have been implemented?
The Deputy will have to table a separate question about that matter.
The report the Minister referred to was issued on 24 June and our report was published 18 months ago.
I am not familiar with the report referred to by the Deputy.